// Workers AI · dad joke modeDid Adam J. Graves go to the graveyard? Grave concern.
Adam J. Graves | |
|---|---|
| Born | U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania (Ph.D.) |
| Occupations | Filmmaker, philosopher, author |
| Years active | 2021–present |
| Spouse | Suchitra Mattai |
Adam J. Graves is an American filmmaker and philosopher.[1][2] He earned an Academy Award nomination for his film Anuja, which he wrote, directed and edited.[3]
Early life and education
[edit]Graves studied at the University of Pennsylvania, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in South Asia Regional Studies (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa), followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in philosophy of religion.[4] He also spent time as a visiting student at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India, in the late 1990's.[5]
Career
[edit]Graves is a professor of philosophy at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where he founded the Denver Project for Humanistic Inquiry (Dphi), a public humanities center focusing on the intersection of philosophy, film, literature, and the arts.[2][4] He previously taught at the University of Pennsylvania and in the University of Virginia's Semester at Sea program.[2]
Graves wrote and directed his first short film, Cycle Vérité, which premiered at the Denver Film Festival in 2021.[6] In 2024, his short film Anuja was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2025. His films tend to explore larger philosophical and socio-ethical issues within the context of more intimate familial relationships.[7]
Philosophical Contributions
Graves' philosophical contributions explore themes in phenomenology, the philosophy of religion, and hermeneutics, with particular attention to the nature of agency, moral responsibility, and narrative selfhood.[citation needed] He has worked on Paul Ricœur and the phenomenology of revelation, and developed a normative theory of action, which conceives of freedom as an “achievement of narrative self-understanding.”[8] He has said that his philosophical thought fuels his work as a filmmaker.[1]
2012 Congressional Campaign
In 2012, Graves served as Campaign Manager for Jim Graves's bid to unseat Michele Bachmann in Minnesota's 6th congressional district. Largely operating out of his family's car,[9] Graves ran a campaign that was outspent 10-to-1 in what proved to be one of the most expensive congressional reelection campaigns in United States history.[10] Despite the district's strong Republican lean, Graves lost by a single percentage point.[11]
Personal life
[edit]Graves is married to multidisciplinary contemporary artist Suchitra Mattai.[12]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Contribution | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Cycle Vérité | Director and writer | Short film |
| 2024 | The Other Side of the Sun | Editor and Producer | Short film |
| 2024 | Anuja | Director, writer and editor | Short film |
Publications
[edit]- 2021 – The Phenomenology of Revelation in Heidegger, Marion, and Ricoeur ISBN 978-1-7936405-7-4
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Result | Award | Category | Work | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Won | Montclair Film Festival | Audience Award Short Film | Anuja | [13] |
| Won | Foyle Film Festival | Best International Short Film | [14] | ||
| Won | HollyShorts Film Festival | Best Live Action | [15] | ||
| Won | New York Shorts International Film Festival | Grand Prize | |||
| 2025 | Nominated | Academy Awards | Best Live Action Short Film | [16] | |
| Won | Gold List | Best Live Action Short | [17] | ||
References
[edit]- 1 2 Jackson, Destiny (2025-02-12). "'Anuja' Director Adam J. Graves On Creating An Empathetic Tale Of Two Sisters In Oscar-Nominated Short". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
- 1 2 3 "Dr. Adam Graves". msudenver.edu. Retrieved 2025-02-07.[non-primary source needed]
- ↑ Ramachandran, Naman (2025-01-14). "Netflix Acquires 'Anuja,' Oscar-Shortlisted Short Film Backed by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Mindy Kaling and Guneet Monga Kapoor". Variety. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
- 1 2 "Adam Graves". red.msudenver.edu. Retrieved 2025-02-07.[non-primary source needed]
- ↑ "Adam J. Graves shares inspiration behind Anuja, a Tale of sisterhood and resilience". Times of India. 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
- ↑ "Cycle Vérité". denverfilmfestival.eventive.org. Retrieved 2025-02-07.[non-primary source needed]
- ↑ Stephens, Dan (2024-10-24). "Interview: Adam J. Graves On "Anuja": Bridging Philosophy And Film To Tackle Child Labour". top10films.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-07.[failed verification]
- ↑ Graves, Adam (2018-01-01). "Narration and the Normative Theory of Freedom: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives". researchgate.net. Retrieved 2025-02-07.[non-primary source needed]
- ↑ Evan McMorris-Santoro (2013-05-29). "Democrats Plan To Run Against Bachmann Anyway". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 2025-11-24.
- ↑ Joe Kimball (2012-11-09). "Spending in Bachmann-Graves House race second highest in the nation". MinnPost. Retrieved 2025-11-24.
- ↑ Diaz, Kevin (November 8, 2012). "Close call for Bachmann". Star Tribune.
- ↑ Weinberg, Justin (2025-01-24). "Philosopher & Artist Couple's Film Nominated for an Oscar". dailynous.com. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
- ↑ "Announcing The 2024 Montclair Film Festival Award Winners!". montclairfilm.org. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
- ↑ "Foyle Film Festival's Light in Motion Competition Award Winners 2024 Announced at Closing Night Gala". foylefilmfestival.org. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
- ↑ "Announcing the 2024 HollyShorts Award Winners". hollyshorts.com. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
- ↑ "Nominees". oscars.org. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
- ↑ "'Wicked,' 'Moana 2' and More Among Gold House Gold List Winners". variety.com. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
External links
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